Thursday, April 30, 2009

Hypothesis

When we met with Caleb's audiologist in December, I told her that I thought his hearing was better even without his hearing aids. She looked at me like I was off. I explained my hypothesis-that, perhaps, since the neurons that hadn't been stimulated for four years were now being stimulated, that they might be making some new connections, thereby improving his hearing. After all, young children's brains are very plastic. She wasn't buying it.

So today I feel vindicated. And, more importantly, thrilled for Caleb. Because now, his hearing loss is no longer classified as "mild to moderate." According to his audiogram today, his hearing has IMPROVED, and his hearing loss is now classified as merely "mild." The audiologist had to turn down his hearing aids. HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!?!?!?!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Answers?

We're having a really hard time getting our school district to test Caleb for color-blindness. We told them last year when his IEP was initiated that he didn't know his colors and that his bio-grandpa is also color-blind. Still, nothing has been done. I spoke with a nurse today and she will be testing him at the end of May. So we wait.

In the meantime, I did some Googling. The main test for color-blindness has numbers, which Caleb ALSO doesn't know, but I found one that they use for kids and developmentally disabled people here. Tonight I told Caleb we would look at some pictures. For each one, he would see the yellow figure and identify it (a square, an "o", a star). And for the other picture? "Spots!"

I think we have our answer!

Getting out of the house...

Caleb: [panicking] I can't find it!
Me: What's wrong?
Caleb: I can't find Wall-E and Eve!!

Pertinent Background Info: These are little plastic "guys." The same ones he left at home when we went to VA. He was so distraught about them that we went to three different stores trying to find something that would fill the void. In the end, Scott saved the day by making replacements out of Legos. Eve, an oval-shaped robot, was a stretch, but the Wall-E was quite impressive!

Me: That's okay, we'll find them when you get home.
Caleb: [distraught] NO!! I need them NOW!!
Me: [panic rising] Uh...
Scott: Oh look! Here's your helicopter. Take that with you.
Caleb: [making helicopter noises as he flies it out to the car] Thanks, Dad!

I love my husband!!

Friday, April 24, 2009

To start or not to start...

That is the question!

Caleb's special day class (SDC) teacher called me today to see what we were thinking about Caleb starting kindergarten in the fall. She said that he is clearly not ready for kindergarten in the fall (which we realized and anticipated), so he could either go to a SDC kindergarten or stay another year in preschool with SDC preschool services two or three days a week. I told her we would keep him in preschool for another year, and that SDC kindergarten wasn't an option. Either he's ready, or he's not.

She then went on to make sure that I understood that when we reach this point next year, we won't have an option–Caleb will go to a special ed. kindergarten if he hasn't caught up.

I really feel like Caleb's delays are due to his inability to hear for four years. He's only had his aids since September, and then there was a month of adjusting to them. He's only really been receiving intensive services since January. I really don't feel like his delays are cognitive, but she kind of made me feel like I'm not seeing the real picture.

Here are things I attribute to Calebs delays: hearing loss, being young (he won't be five until the end of May), being a very active boy, being a second child, color-blindness (which still hasn't been formally established). Cognitive deficits don't even factor into this list.

Within the last couple of weeks, he's begun to be able to sit down and focus on a more academic book or go over his homework. These are new benchmarks for him, and his language explosion continues. I just feel like he needs more time to make up for four years of not being able to hear. Am I way off-base??

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Eating My Words

I told everyone that we would not be inviting anyone over until after the remodel.

And then my high school friend, who I found on Facebook and I have't seen for 22 (YIKES!) years came into town. So tomorrow he's coming over to our house. Our house with no kitchen floor, a big ugly wall covering half the downstairs, and with the port-a-potty in front. Yep.

Oh well. It will be really good to see him!

Random Thoughts

It's been 9 days since my last post. Here's why:
  • We went back to work. The transition was pretty smooth since Nik was still on Spring Break. She spent two days with my mom and three days cleaning. Which leads me to my next point.
  • We had a birthday party. Nikki and nine of her closest friends had a sleepover in our tent in the back yard. She had a GREAT time, and they were really very easy.
  • We spent the weekend getting ready for the remodel. We came home yesterday to a big wall where our family room used to be. They are also dismantling our deck today and breaking up our patio tomorrow.
And that pretty much brings you up to speed. I can't believe it's almost May. Where did 2009 go???

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Clearer on the Concept?

Caleb: Jesus bring me a Easter basket!
Nikki: No, the EASTER BUNNY brought you an Easter basket.
Caleb: HUH? What you talking about? It not a bunny. It JESUS!

Which actually makes a lot more sense than some rodent bringing candy, right??

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Here's something fun!

During my master's program, I contributed VERY minimally to an article co-authored by some of my fellow students and my professor. I guess they're up for an award! Check it out here.

Directions: Scroll ALL THE WAY to the bottom of the middle column under "Learned Article." It's the one about wildfires. I'm listed last for a reason. ;)

Vacation of Vomit

I believe I mentioned that Caleb had the flu last Saturday? And that Nikki came down with it while we were packing up to come home from our camping trip? Well, we had one day of healthy Pages and then I came down with it Thursday night. It was BAD! I spent all Good Friday in bed and missed services. Then, magically, 24 hours after the achiness set in, I felt not bad (good would be stretch).

The worst part about it, though, was looking at poor Scott and knowing that he was next. And sure enough, this morning at 1:00, he woke up and said, "My turn." I told him he had another four hours before the vomiting started, and sure enough he did. So today he will be in bed all day.

The good news is that, so far, his has been a milder case. And also that he will be well in time for Easter.

When Caleb made his daily early-morning migration to our bed yesterday, Scott took him back to bed (there was no resting in our room at that point) saying, "Mommy is sick." This morning, he was invited over to my side of the bed with the admonition, "Daddy is sick." Both times, he responded, "Yeah, I throw up." In spite of acknowledging his responsibility for this epidemic, he doesn't seem to feel the least bit guilty. It must be nice to be four.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

The calm before the storm...

Camping was FUN! And WINDY! And COLD! We are planning to go camping for a week in Yosemite this summer, and we learned some things:
  1. There is not enough room in our van for everything we need for a week. Not quite sure what to do about that yet.
  2. Coleman makes a very cool space heater that runs on those little propane tanks. I want one.
  3. Costco no longer sells those little propane tanks. Where else does one purchase them in bulk? We NEED bulk!!
  4. We need a better way of organizing our stuff. This is really Scott's deal, but I back him 100%.
Nikki woke up the morning we were supposed to leave with all the symptoms of Caleb's flu bug. She was so considerate in waiting until we had to leave, anyway. She napped in the van while we packed, and politely waited until we were only five minutes from home to actually get sick (and was prepared with a lidded bowl). She was miserable for the rest of the day, but at least she got to be miserable in her house.

The contractor came by yesterday to tell us that they will be breaking ground next Wed. He will be constructing a wall in our current family room and tearing down our deck. It's going to be SO great when it's done!! YIKES!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

A-camping we will go...

I was right; today was a better day.

We leave tomorrow for a short camping trip with Scott's family at a nearby campground. Scott says it's almost like we're camping anyway since we have to dishes by hand. Other than the running water, he's sort of right.

Farewell for awhile, bloggers!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Adding insult to injury...

Caleb is now puking. Since 5:30 this morning, actually. *sigh*

At least there's nothing wrong with the washing machine!!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Grumpy

It's SPRING BREAK!!! I should be SO EXCITED! And yet, I'm not.

I was at work until 5:00 today doing grades. Have I mentioned that I hate grades?? Especially FINAL grades that go on transcripts?? Well, I do. Even though I only have a couple students failing (and they missed the better part of the semester, so there's not much I can do about that!).

Also annoying is the large, wet, floorless area in my kitchen where the dishwasher and flooring should be. Caleb's WONDERFUL Goddad came all the way out here today (he lives 45 minutes away!) to cut out the ruined flooring and remove the old dishwasher. He also was kind enough to cap something off so we have hot water (!!!). I got home at 5:30 so I could do dishes by hand for 90 minutes (apparently there were still A LOT of dirty dishes in the leaky dishwasher). Then we went out to dinner (again) and to Costco to get biodegradable paper plates (I know, they're not really going to biodegrade in a landfill, but I'm desperate!). Don't get me wrong, I could certainly deal with no dishwasher for a week or even two, but it's going to be FOUR MONTHS until we even START to put our kitchen back together.

I have to be at work at 10:00 tomorrow for a psych review. I may or may not have at least five students there. THEN I get to transport my Peer Helpers to a Dance-a-Thon. Since Saturday is already shot, it's fine. However, they also scheduled another meeting during Spring Break and informed me of this today. Since it's supposed to be in my classroom, I'm not sure how that's going to work for them. I will most certainly NOT be there!

So I am grumpy. I tried commiserating with a friend and she told me tonight that she doesn't like to talk to me when I'm being so negative. I told her to have a nice trip (she's leaving tomorrow for vacation) and hung up. My mom called to wish me a happy break and was surprised that I wasn't so very happy at all. I had to go eat dinner, but I didn't call her back. My husband slunk off to bed. So guess what, blog, YOU get to be the recipient of all my grumpy rantings!

Now, I'm going to kiss my kids goodnight (and yes, they're still awake!) and drown my sorrows in chocolate.

Tomorrow will be a better day. Okay, well, maybe Sunday will. Grrrr....

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Decisions

My family really needs some BPA-free drinking bottles. I'm thinking about purchasing these. Opinions??

Oh, looky!

I finally figured out how to put an outside layout on my blog! So exciting!!

Two more days until Spring Break. I can SEE the light at the end of the tunnel!